The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has strongly condemned the reported misconduct of Cavite 4th District Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga, who is facing a formal complaint before the House of Representatives Ethics Committee over alleged lewd photos and inappropriate remarks against women.

In a statement released Wednesday, September 17, the PCW stressed that such actions, particularly when committed by a public official, are a “direct affront to the honor and dignity of women” and a gross violation of public trust.

“Public service is a sacred responsibility, and those who hold office are expected to be role models, champions of the people's rights, and protectors of the most vulnerable,” the PCW said.

The PCW emphasized that Barzaga’s alleged behavior is not just a personal lapse but a disturbing reflection of misogyny that undermines the Philippines’ progress in advancing women’s rights.

“To engage in the objectification and denigration of women is to betray this sacred trust,” the PCW said. “It is an act of insensitivity and callousness, particularly in a society where women and girls navigate multiple layers of abuse, discrimination, and violence on a daily basis,” it added.

The PCW cited landmark legislation such as the Magna Carta of Women, the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, and the Safe Spaces Act, stressing that such actions erode the gains made in empowering women and preventing violence and discrimination.

“This scandalous behavior is a disturbing backlash against the progress the Philippines has made in women's empowerment and the fight to address and prevent violence against women (VAW),” the PCW said.

“Actions that demean women's dignity undermine these hard-won gains and threaten to normalize a culture of misogyny that we have been working so hard to dismantle,” it added.

“True leadership is reflected not only in a candidate's promises but in their actions and how they treat others,” the PCW said.

Underscoring that accountability must be upheld “regardless of the person involved or their political affiliation,” the PCW called on Congress and other branches of government to apply ethics rules fairly and consistently.

“Accountability must be a non-negotiable principle,” the PCW said. “It is imperative that such acts, regardless of the person involved or their political affiliation, be subjected to the same ethics complaint in Congress and similar mechanisms across all branches of the Philippine government,” it added.

The PCW also reminded voters of its past warnings during elections, when it urged the public to reject candidates who resort to sexist strategies and the commodification of women’s bodies.

“Voters should elect candidates who genuinely respect and uphold the rights and dignity of all Filipinos, especially women and girls,” the PCW said.

Citing the country’s pre-colonial history, the PCW recalled how women, particularly the Babaylan, were once revered as co-equals of men and played vital roles as community leaders, healers, and decision-makers.

“We must reclaim our rightful place in society, one guided by the principles of respect, equality, and dignity,” the PCW said. “We must hold our leaders to a higher standard and demand that they not only talk about progress but actively embody it,” it added.

The Commission also called for vigilance, urging Filipinos to stand against discrimination and the disrespect of women’s rights with the same intensity as they condemn corruption.

“Beyond the corruption of public funds, we must also fight the corruption of women’s rights, empowerment, and human dignity that has spread like a cancer in our society,” the PCW said. “This moral decay must be addressed with the same scrutiny as financial corruption,” it added.